is metric system used in America?
By nawala
@nawala123 (20852)
Indonesia
November 21, 2018 6:49am CST
when i watch TV proggramme or movie (Hollywood) i often see and hear american use feet, inch, yard, pound, and miles. those are very strange for indonesian, because in daily life we use metre, centimetre, kilometre, kilogram.
i never been in america and i dont know american system in daily life. may be mylotter can help me to solve my curiosity on this?
11 people like this
11 responses
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
21 Nov 18
Europeans have the same problem as you. I don't understand why the metric system isn't used in the USA and other English speaking countries. It's so logical.
Once I was in Florida. At the roadside oranges were sold. The price was written down for 1 *bushel*. I asked the man how many kg were in a bushel. He looked at me as if I had come from behind the moon!
In my opinion *he* was behind the moon. :-)
3 people like this
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@marguicha (215792)
• Chile
21 Nov 18
It seems that in the US they use a non metric system everywhere. In South America we have always used the metric system.
2 people like this
@marguicha (215792)
• Chile
21 Nov 18
@MALUSE We are advanced in many things as compared to them. At least in my country, the election system would not have made possible for a Trump to be elected.
1 person likes this
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
21 Nov 18
I know it. I think America is in the other side
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
21 Nov 18
In the US, we still use the pre-metric system of measurement known as the Imperial System or the Customary System. Even though the government approved the metric system here in the 1860s, the people have never taken to it. We do use it in science and academics, and it is becoming more common in liquid measurements such as 1/2 liter, liter, and 2 liter bottles of drinks, and liquid medicines are now dispensed in milliliters.
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
21 Nov 18
@nawala123 It is widely accepted now, but it took a century after its introduction for it to become used in the British Empire/Commonwealth. They were still on feet, pounds, and gallons until the 1990s.
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
21 Nov 18
@DWDavis but more exposed to the metric, is it true?
1 person likes this
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
21 Nov 18
i think is america want to maintain it main "role" america have to adapt the world. but i see some american know metric system
@akalinus (40601)
• United States
21 Nov 18
@nawala123 We just get tired of the government trying to shove things down our throats.
@porwest (78759)
• United States
22 Nov 18
The U.S. uses the standard system, and to be totally honest, it seems much easier to grasp. Everything in the metric system requires more math in my opinion. For example, one yard is a very simple and even 36 inches while in the metric system it is .9144 meters or 1 inch is .0254 meters. I don't need a calculator to figure out 2 yards in inches, but I DO need a calculator to determine how many meters is in 2 yards.
@porwest (78759)
• United States
23 Nov 18
@nawala123 But then I'd have to do the math on centimeters. It's a conundrum. 
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
22 Nov 18
you dont need to determine how many meters in 2 yard if you use centimeters
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
21 Nov 18
Americans generally don't use the metric system on a day to day basis.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
21 Nov 18
@nawala123 I teach the metric system in 4th grade now and I did in middle school when I taught there. When I was in high school, we were told we'd need to learn the metric system because it would be the only system in use in the US by the 1980s. Still waiting 40 years later.
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5046)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
21 Nov 18
@nawala123 in highschool chemistry and physics classes.
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
22 Nov 18
we know inch, but never practice it, even for TV or Computer screen, we dont care about it
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247191)
• United States
26 Nov 18
@nawala123 I don't do business with other countries, so it's not a problem.
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
22 Nov 18
but how about having business and deal with other countries?
1 person likes this
@franxav (13622)
• India
21 Nov 18
In India, over 50 years ago we used ser instead of kg a rupee was adequate of 64 paisa. Now a rupee contains 100 paisa. This has made things easier.
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
21 Nov 18
because 'MERICA ! thats why.
back in the beginning, it was a way for america to let the world know, we are our own country, individual from all. both measurements , metric/imperial , are on most items nowadays. i believe metric system is used in bridge building.
@nawala123 (20852)
• Indonesia
21 Nov 18
yes you are right. it is a bridge for all countries communicate
1 person likes this
